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Growing The Seed ......

Recently our readings have been focused on our progress through religious life.

This involved hearing about Christian faith, receiving the faith and this week spreading faith – or Evangelism. 

First hearing the word – the truth – the meaning of life – the importance of life – the goals of life …………. we had the parable of the Sower.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Sower 

Where are we? Are we the seed thrown on the path of life? Often, we don’t even hear the word – the truth. 

Perhaps we are the seed thrown on stoney ground. Perhaps our faith lacks depth. It is just a passing enthusiasm

Perhaps we are the seed sown among thorns.  We are distracted by the worldly commitments and attractions of life. Shopping, sport, entertainment, family or business commitments. There is no time left for faith, church or religious commitment. 

Hopefully we are like seed sown on good soil. We hear the word, accept it, and produce the wonderful crop of evangelism. 

I suggest that we are a combination – a bit of each!

Secondly, receiving or committing to the faith.  Last time we heard of Nicodemus the converted pharisees who was of course good the seed sown on good soil. He became a lifelong supporter of our Lord – even to the point of assisting Joseph of Arimathea in His burial after His crucifixion. We remember that Nicodemus brought 75 lbs funerary spices – or enough for a king.

Thirdly Spreading the word or evangelism.  How can we become the good seed living and spreading the teaching of our Lord?

Interestingly we need to remember that Christianity is the ‘upgrade’ on the Old Testament.  The prophet Ezekiel needed to sow his seed in the most advantageous way possible for it to sprout. He was a very demanding sower.

“I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.

With Christianity even a tiny mustard seed of Christian truth is enough to become a mustard tree. It spread all over the world. 

Our Lord drew from the whole of the Judaic tradition. He created just twelve disciples who had such a powerful message it spread over the whole world – and changed the world.

The comfort is that we don’t need to be the top most twig from the tallest tree planted on the highest mountain to start spreading the word.

All we need to do is to live the Beatitudes and the first Commandment 

We need Humility, Yearning for God, Gentleness, Righteousness, Compassion, Forgiveness, Purity of heart, Peace-making and ability to facing Hardship for following God's teachings – like the Corinthians – and the 360+ million currently facing persecution

Above all we need to “’Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:37)

Christianity started as the smallest of trees but grew to one of the greatest of trees.

All we have to do is to follow Him and do as He did.

Amen

 


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